CLINTON, S.C. – The Presbyterian College women's basketball team used 15-0 run in the third quarter to power past Charleston Southern, 52-37, Tuesday night at the Templeton Center. PC forced 20 plus turnovers for the second straight game.
The Blue Hose improved to 14-9, 10-4 in the Big South Conference, while the Buccaneers fell to 11-12, 6-8 on the season. With the win, PC matched the conference win total from a season ago with six regular season games remaining.
The Blue Hose are chasing the 2012-13 squad that went 19-10, 14-4 on the season, the most Division I and Big South Conference wins in school history.
Salina Virola (Huntsville, Ala.) led all scorers with 15 points and added three rebounds and two seals. Allie Wagner (Easley, S.C.) added 11 points and pulled down four rebounds, while Rebecca Walker (Snellville, Ga.) brought in a team-best six rebounds.
Rachel Burns led the Bucs with 12 points, while Alyssa Mann added 10 points and four rebounds. Three difference Charleston Southern players collected six rebounds.
Kaycie Reffner (Altoona, Pa.) started the game with a made layup and Janie Miles (Clemson, S.C.) converted two free throws that gave PC a 4-2 lead early. CSU ended the first period on a 9-0 run and took an 11-4 lead into the second quarter.
The Blue Hose started the second period on a 5-2 run and cut the lead to 13-9 on Aianna Kelly's (Newport News, Va.) made free throws. PC then went on an 8-0 stretch when Wagner gave the Blue Hose a 17-15 lead on a made layup. Wagner converted a free throw to end the quarter and gave PC an 18-17 lead at halftime.
Charleston Southern opened the second half on an 11-2 run and took a 28-20 lead. The Blue Hose responded with a 15-0 run and took a 35-28 lead with a minute remaining in the period. Virola buried a three-pointer that ended the quarter and put the Blue Hose on top, 38-30, heading into the final period.
Yakima Clifton's (Durham, N.C.) free throw gave PC a double digit lead at 45-35 with 6:45 remaining in the game. Ke'Asia Jackson converted two free throws with 5:04 left, the last points of the game for Charleston Southern. The Blue Hose ended the game on a 7-0 run.
PC forced the Buccaneers into 24 turnovers and scored 17 points off turnovers.
The Blue Hose return to action next Tuesday, February 16, at 7 p.m. against Gardner-Webb in Boiling Springs, N.C. The Blue Hose return to action next Tuesday, February 16, at 7 p.m. against Gardner-Webb in Boiling Springs, N.C.
